Are financial pledges from the international community the answer?
No, not if they are ‘buying’ the preservation of the Yasuní and the lives of its inhabitants. Paying for the Yasuní to remain unexploited undermines the human rights of those that live within the zone and other international environmental laws because the Yasuní is a protected park and the people that live within it have a basic right to life. A price cannot be put on these rights and should not be demanded. This was also recognised by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights who ordered special protective measures on the behalf of the Taromenane and Tagaeri. Certainly money should be given to Ecuador to support the development of alternative economic activities and to help the country preserve its forests and escape from its oil dependence. This is not charity; it is something that is beneficial for the whole world in preventing climate change. Certainly, the Yasuní should be protected because of its unique biological, ecological and cultural importance. But these are separate is
